Spring Semester 2019 series #2: The power of goal setting

Working hard is a lot easier if you know what you want to achieve.  One powerful but easy thing to do is to set goals – both long-term and short-term.   A workable goal needs to have three characteristics:

·       Be measurable

·       Have a time limit

·       Be attainable*

*Some people think you should set a goal that is extremely high, and then if you don’t quite make it you will still be successful.  I prefer to reach the goal and then immediately set another.

At the beginning of the semester it is a good idea to set a goal for the semester – for example a grade-point average you would like to achieve.  My advice was always to write it on an index card and post it somewhere in your room where you will see it every day. I recently read a great idea for this in Fail Until You Don’t by Bobby Bones.  He suggested typing the goal in your phone and then making that your screen saver so you see it multiple times a day.  Given how many times we look at our phones, that is a great idea!

Short-term goals can be for a week or a day.   Many students start the day with a to-do list.  It is a great motivator to cross off what you have done plus you feel more organized and directed throughout the day.

The next blog will look at time management and the importance of your class syllabi.   Time management in particular fits with goal setting because having specific goals helps you use your time more efficiently.  For now, think about, and then write down what you want to achieve this semester.  Make a to-do list for today and/or tomorrow to strategically plan how you will achieve your goal. 

*****

First Semester Success, 2nd edition, by Dr. Arden B. Hamer, is available as an eBook and hardcopy from amazon.com and as a hard copy from wordassociation.com.   Click on the upper right link.

Spring Semester 2019 Blog #1 - Getting Started

This starts a semester-long series of 15 blogs running from the first day of classes to final exams.   The first entry is about what to consider during the first few days of the semester depending on whether this is your first semester, a semester following some problems such as academic probation, or simply continuing on with your success.

If you are a first-time student, look at big picture:

·       How are your classes arranged throughout the week?

·       When will you study?

·       What tutoring is available on campus?

·       How do you plan to exercise and eat properly? 

·       Be sure you are connected to the internet and are accessing your school email. 

·       Find out what on-line grade and communication system will each professor use.

·       Do you have all the academic materials you need such as textbooks and access to on-line supplements or classroom supplies?

I

f you are a successful returning student:

·       How are your classes arranged this semester compared to the previous semester (more spread out, compressed, early, late in the day)?

·       What are the best times to study this semester?

·       What studying habits will you maintain?

·       What changes do you need to make that will further enhance your success?

If you were not successful in previous semesters:

·       Where can you make positive changes?

·       What went well that you will continue?

·       Which classes will require more effort? 

·       If you are retaking a class to erase a low grade, think about what you will do differently this semester – do not just repeat what you did before! 

·       Also read the things information for the first-time student and be sure those are covered.

Remember that the habits you start to develop this first week will guide your entire semester.  It is much easier to start the semester with positive habits rather than make corrections after the first few weeks!

The next blog will deal with setting goals, both short term and long term, and how to ensure you succeed

*****
First Semester Success: 2nd Edition, by Dr. Arden B. Hamer, is available as an eBook and hardcopy from amazon.com and as a hardcopy from wordassociation.com.  Click on the upper right link.

Sailing Through Final's Week

Each semester your final exams will be different – sometimes you may have few exams and more papers and projects, other years you may have all cumulative exams.  Everyone will have a different schedule.  Some people will be done after the first two or three days, others will have an exam scheduled at the very last time slot.  Your roommates may all be leaving for break at different times.  Some other things to keep in mind are:

• It goes without saying to make sure you know exactly when and where each exam will be given.  And – be early!  Get a good seat! Take a few minutes to do a quick final review.
• Make sure you are spreading out your studying as described in earlier blogs.  Arrange your time so that the last class you study for is the one in which you have the first exam the next day.
• If you have two or more in a row, prepare a few summary cards for the second and third exam that you can review as you walk to those exams.
• Do not go out to celebrate with friends who are done with exams if you are not!
• Do not let other students share their stress with you.  It is common for someone to talk about how nervous they are.  In many cases they are relieving their stress by sharing it with you!   Don’t fall into their trap!
• Use appropriate test-taking strategies for each type of exam.  For example, use process of elimination with Multiple Choice, read the entire prompt and answer the points in order for Essay, remember that one wrong work makes a statement false in a True/False exam.
• If you are nervous, take a deep breath when you get the exam and before you start.   If you do not know the first answer, look for a question you know.  That will relieve your stress and help you access the information in your brain.

Your hard work and studying will pay off.  Then you can enjoy a well-earned break!

*****
First Semester Success, 2nd Edition, by Dr. Arden B. Hamer, is available in hardcopy and as an eBook from amazon.com and hardcopy from wordassociation.com.  Click on the upper right link.

End-of-semester Strategies

Everyone is returning from Thanksgiving break and headed into the end of classes and final exams. Here are some ideas to end the semester well:

• Take a minute to look at the final two or three weeks in general.   What assignments/projects do you have to complete?  What social events to you want to do?  When do you have to be out of the dorm?  Do you have any gifts to buy?
• Look at your final exam schedule.  When are they scheduled?  If there are several in one day, is there a procedure in place to spread them out?  If one professor has several sections of the same class, will he or she allow you to take the exam earlier?
• Is each final cumulative or the does it cover just the last unit in the class?
• Particularly for an exam that is cumulative, begin now to review all of the information.   Look for the large units within the material and start to focus on each of those.
• Look at your grade in each class.  If you are close to a higher grade or near the bottom of a grade, plan to spend extra effort in that class.
• Use the week or two before finals to be sure you have all of the information you need in each class.  If you missed a lecture, get the notes from a fellow student.  (Someone you think will be earning an ‘A’ in the class!)   Take the time to recopy the notes into your own style.

The final blog for this semester will deal specifically with finals week.  Keep studying – a longer break is in sight!

*****
First Semester Success, 2nd Edition, by Dr. Arden B. Hamer, is available as an eBook and hard copy from amazon.com and a hard copy from wordassociation.com.  Click on the upper right link.

College 101: Blog 8 of 8 – Staying Motivated

Even though the semester goes by quickly, it is hard to maintain a high level of motivation the entire time.  As a professor, I always hit a slump somewhere toward the middle, but the next day I had my excitement for teaching back.  Here are some ways to help yourself stay motivated:

• Set a grade point goal for the semester and post it where you can see it every morning, maybe on your mirror when you brush your teeth.
• Envision yourself working in your future career.
• If you do not have a specific career goal yet, envision yourself graduating and think how happy and proud you will be.
• For a class that you are not interested in:
• Set a timer for 20 minutes and study for that period of time.  Take a short break and resume f or another 20 if you are not done.
• Be careful how you talk to yourself about the class.  Stop complaining and see the class as a stepping stone in your academic career.
• Think about how the class is adding to your general knowledge as a well-rounded person.
• Act as if you are interested.  (I know this sounds odd, but my students tell me it works!!)
• Think about the benefit of making short-term sacrifices for long-term gain.  You can say no to a social event and go to the Library to study!
• Plan a fun event sometime in the future as a reward.  It is easier to work hard if there is something near term to look forward to.
• Post motivational quotes where you will see them.  My favorite that I have in my office is, “We are what we repeatedly do.  Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit.”  (Aristotle)
• Regularly take a few minutes to congratulate yourself on what you have accomplished.  Nothing makes working hard easier than seeing the positive results!

This concludes the eight-part series of college basics.   We’ll review studying and testing for the remainder of this fall semester – just in time for finals!

*****
First Semester Success, 2nd edition, by Dr. Arden B. Hamer, is now available at amazon.com, wordassociation.com and barnesandnoble.com.  Click on the upper right link.

College 101 – Blog 7 or 8: Test-taking Strategies

If you do not know the material, all the test-taking strategies in the world will not help.  But there are things you can do to be a wise test-taker:

General:

• Look at the whole test before you start so you have an idea of what to expect.
• Plan your time.   For example, if there are four essay questions, divide your time in quarters.  If it is half essay and half multiple choice (MC), divide your time accordingly.
• Use the test to help you answer.  If you have both the essay and MC at the same time, you can use some of the MC questions and answers to prompt your memory for the essay.  (It is possible you will not be able to have both of these parts at the same time to avoid this strategy.  Professors were once students too!)
• If you are anxious, take a deep breath before starting.
• If on scantron, frequently be sure you are on the correct number!

 Essay:

• Read the prompt twice.  Mark-up if allowed to highlight the main points you are to address.
• Take a minute to plan your answer – sometimes if you just jump in and start to write you end up in corner!   If possible, make a quick outline in corner of test page.
• Answer points from prompt in the order they appear.
• Use signal words to help your professor follow along.
• Remember that your job is to show how much you know.  Don’t leave out important information because the professor already knows it!
• If time, reread.

 Multiple Choice:

• If you don’t know the first question, skip and start with one you know.  Once you access your background knowledge you will begin to remember more.
• Use process of elimination – cross off wrong answers.
• Look for best answer – there may be more than one that fits.
• If unsure, use future questions and wrong answers to prompt you to know earlier answers.
• Be careful with prompts containing NOT or EXCEPT.   Often that means you are looking for the wrong answer in the group.
• MC may be very different on a computer.  You do not have the ability to physically cross off the wrong answers.  Programs vary in how they deal  with skipped questions.

True/False:

·       If any one word in wrong it is all false.

This was a long blog, the there is much to consider when taking an exam.  The last blog in this series will address how to stay motivated, even in a class you are not interested in!

*****
First Semester Success: 2nd Edition, by Dr. Arden B. Hamer, is available in hard copy and as an eBook from amazon.com, and in hard copy from wordassociation.com and barnesandnoble.com.  Click on the upper right link.

College 101: Blog 6 of 8 - Preparing for exams

Major exams should be announced in the syllabus given at the beginning of the semester.  It is not uncommon for an exam to be rescheduled, usually to a later date so the professor can cover the material covered by the exam.   Here are two scenarios for preparing:

#1 – You have been studying and learning throughout the semester.

• Be sure you know what the exam will cover.
• Be sure you have all of the information.   If you missed a class, get the notes from a student you think will earn an ‘A’ in the class.   You will learn better if you rewrite the notes in your own style.  Hopefully when you were absent you left a few blank pages in order to insert these notes where they belong in the sequence of the information.
• Know the format – essay, multiple choice, short answer, etc.?
• One week prior to exam, go over all notes and identify the main topics.
• Make an over view chart
• Take one topic per day and do an in-depth review including self-testing.
• Each subsequent day review the previous information and do next in depth.
• Last day(s) review all
• When available go to tutoring, professor-led review sessions, or study groups. 

#2 – If you have not been learning all along.

• Do the first three items on scenario #1.
• Identify main topics as above and make a review chart.
• Go through notes and identify subtopics under each main heading.  Write them on chart.
• Depending on time, write next level of material on chart.
• Review chart.  Refer back to notes and textbook for anything you are not sure of.
• Go through chart, cover information and practice self-testing as much as time allows.
• Do NOT stay up all night!! 

Blog 7of 8 will examine the next step – test taking strategies.

*****

First Semester Success, 2nd Edition, by Dr. Arden B. Hamer, is available at amazon.com, wordassociation.com and barnesandnoble.com.  The book is now available as an eBook through Amazon.  Click on the upper right link.